Mamata disappoints Mumbai

Deepak Gandhi, president of Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers' Association, said:
“Mumbai suburban passengers will get zero benefit from the budget. There is no respite for suburban commuters as not much has been done in terms of increasing services for lakhs of passengers who travel everyday”.  Madhu Kotian, president of the Mumbai Pravasi Railway Sangh, said the small number of 47 services would not help the six million strong commuters who travel every day.

He, however, welcomed the converting all 107 trains that run on the harbour line from nine coaches to 12 coaches.

 The railway minister’s proposal to convert all 107 harbour line services from nine coaches to 12 coaches and other announcements like start of new long distance trains were, however, welcomed by the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. He said linking Kolhapur to Konkan via railway would give impetus to trade and industry in the region.

The introduction Duronto trains from Mumbai and Pune to destinations like Sicundrabad and Ahmedabad would help tourism.

He also welcomed the Railway Minister's proposal to provide housing for those living near the railway tracks.

DH New Service